Keeping with the band theme...

Thom Yorke

Which band member are you?

There's a saying about how all the ladies know about the drummer. I have no idea what it means. I've asked countless drummers and people in general about it, and nobody can give me a reasonable answer. See, all band members are cool, simply for being in a band, right? What is it about the drummer that makes him or her stand out? It could be that it's all a joke, as the one who told me about it was, in fact, a drummer. However, there are many intriguing qualities in the one who holds the beat, no doubt. I'm more attracted to lead singers, and I would imagine many people are. The lead singer gets to strut around in the spotlight and has to have the ability to put it on the line. Many people I know are more drawn to those who plays bass, and yes, there are plenty of people into drummers too. I love getting into grand generalizations with things like this, knowing that there are plenty of lead singers who don't fit the general stereotype. Phil Collins, unfortunately, comes to mind. Of course with a band like Maroon 5 (shhh don't tell anyone I actually like a few of their songs!) anyone can look at Adam Lavine and see he's a great piece of eye candy, but he's not the only good looking guy in the band. He is the one who gets the most attention and press and obviously stands out from the rest though. There's something about taking the lead that adds to his attractiveness. Would I be as desperately drawn to Thom Yorke if he weren't the lead singer of my favorite band? I doubt it. Sure he's attractive, but it's also his talent and courage that make me swoon.

Yesterday I met with Bobby McGee, and he was talking about those select few who can run well. They have that little extra something. Nearly all runners are thought of as slightly nutty by the general population. We don't fit the standard athletic model, especially when it comes to guys. Running isn't a sport that requires a tremendous amount of bulking up like a football player. To make it as an elite runner takes more than consistency, good training and a certain physique. You have to have passion. I've discussed this before, but without that driving "juice", which is limited, one will never run to the best of his ability. That's the difference between someone who can have a long and relatively successful career and someone who rises to the top, makes a big statement but isn't able to sustain it long term. That's the difference between an elite runner and everyone else. Unfortunately, this "juice" that Bobby mentions usually doesn't last more than about eight years or so. Those who have run at a top level, know what he means. I suppose it's this way with anything, and of course there are exceptions. Without passion and an inner drive, I doubt an artist, musician or writer could be all that successful. I only know one guy who can make typing daring and seductive, and he's a natural born writer. Anyone can see "it" in a writer once the content is on the pages though. Either the author is a great writer, or he's not. Like with running, there are plenty of people who write, but only a select few who really have what it takes to stand out among the rest. There aren't many Hemingways, but there are plenty of people who self publish a story or five. Obviously I don't put myself in any world class writing group, but I had a taste of it as a mountain runner.

My running juice is gone, and I know this. It doesn't mean that I have to give up running or even racing; I just know that I don't have that little something extra anymore. Whatever that magical sauce was, I used it up at a very young age. I did have approximately six years of being at the top, so to speak, but once that reservoir gone it's gone. I will occasionally get glimpses of it again, and It's not like that fire inside ever completely dies. The desire is still often there, it's more that I can't keep hanging on when my body and the universe have pushed and pulled me in a different direction. Though I "retired" kicking and screaming, I've now accepted that being among the average runners is OK. Hell, at this point, I'm lucky (and grateful) I can even hobble a few miles outdoors!

Ryan Hall- plenty of juice in this one

Unfortunately, my computer is still sick, so I have to borrow the one I'm using now. This means I don't have the time I need to create a more well thought out blog post. So, I will cut this one short and save the rest of my thoughts for another time. Hooray that I got two blog posts in a week though! Go me. Jeez, I still don't know how people create several blog posts each day. Whewww. They must have some serious blogging juice in them or something.